Use keyboard shortcuts
Updated 24 Jun 2024
Cut, copy, and paste your answers using the keyboard. Or, use keyboard shortcuts to enter special characters and symbols.
For example, if you enter: \sqrt. The square root symbol shows:
Some courses include a palette of symbols where you can enter math notation from a palette.
Copy text
- Highlight the text.
- Press and hold down the Control key.
- Press the c key
- Release both keys.
Cut text
- Highlight the text.
- Press and hold down the Control key.
- Press the x key
- Release both keys.
Paste copied or cut text
- Place your cursor where you want to paste the text.
- Press and hold down the Control key.
- Press the v key.
- Release both keys.
To use this symbol... | Enter this shortcut... | For example |
---|---|---|
+ (plus) | Plus sign on keyboard | |
- (minus) | Dash on keyboard | |
(plus or minus) | \plusminus | |
= (equal) | Equal sign on keyboard | |
(multiplication dot) | * (asterisk)
(For example: 2 * 3) |
|
(times sign) | \times
(For example: 2 \times 3) |
|
(divided by) | \divide | |
< (less than) | Left angle sign on keyboard (For example: 2 < 3) |
|
(less than or equal to) | < = (left angle sign and an equal sign) (For example: 2 <= 3) |
|
< (greater than) | Right angle sign on keyboard (For example: 3 > 2) |
|
(greater than or equal to) | > = (right angle sign and an equal sign)
(For example: 3 >= 2) |
|
(not equal) | <> (left and right angle signs) (For example: 3 <> 2) |
To use this symbol... | Enter this shortcut... | For example |
---|---|---|
(fraction) |
/
(Type the numerator, then a slash, then the denominator. For example: 2 /3) |
|
(superscript) |
Type the Shift key, then the up arrow to create a superscript box where you can enter a number. |
|
(subscript) |
Type the Shift key, then the down arrow to create a subscript box where you can enter a number. |
|
(superscript and subscript) | \supsub
(Creates a template where you can enter the base value in the box on the left, and the superscript and subscript in the boxes on the right.) |
(empty template) (template with values) |
(double subscripts) | \subsub
(Creates a template where you can enter a subscript in the box on the left, the base value in the box in the middle, and a subscript in the box on the right.) |
(empty template) (template with values) |
(absolute value) | \abs
(Creates a template where you can enter a value in the highlighted blue box.) |
(empty template)
(template with value) |
(square root) | \sqrt
(Creates a template where you can enter a value in the highlighted blue box.) |
(empty template)
(template with value) |
(Nth-root) | \nrt
(Creates a template where you can enter the values in the highlighted blue boxes.) |
(empty template)
(template with values) |
(left conditional arrow) | \larrow
(For example, a \larrow b) |
|
(right conditional arrow) | \rarrow
(For example, a \rarrow b) |
|
(biconditional arrow) | \biarrow
(For example, a \biarrow b) |
|
(vertical bar) | \textbar
(For example: 5 \textbar 15) |
|
(empty set) | \empty
(For example: V = \empty) |
|
(union) | \cup
(For example: A \cup B) |
|
(intersection) | \cap
(For example: A \cap B) |
|
(element of) | \element
(For example: A \element B) |
|
(not an element of) | \nelement
(For example: A \nelement B) |
|
(subset of) | \subset
(For example: A \subset B) |
|
(not a subset of) | \nsubset
(For example: A \nsubset B) |
|
(proper subset of) | \propersub
(For example: A \propersub B) |
|
(not a proper subset of) | \npropersub
(For example: A \npropersub B) |
|
(angle) | \angle
(For example: \angle ABC) |
|
(logical and) | \and
(For example: A \and B) |
|
(logical or) | \or
(For example: A \or B) |
|
(logical not) | \not
(For example: \not A) |
|
(equivalent) | Tilde on keyboard | |
(infinity) | \inf
(For example: A = \inf) |
|
(imaginary unit) | i on keyboard
(For example: a = bi = 0) |
|
(Euler's number) | e on keyboard
(For example: e = 0) |
|
(gradient) | \grad
(For example: \grad f = 2y) |
|
(partial derivative) | \partiald
(For example, \partiald x) |
|
(integral) | \int
(For example: \int f(x) dx |
|
(definitive integral) | \dint
(Creates a template where you can enter values in the highlighted blue boxes. For example 2 \dint 3) |
|
(over-bar) | \bar
(Creates a template where you can enter a value in the highlighted blue box.) |
(empty template)
(template with value) |
(double overbar) | \dbar
(Creates a template where you can enter a value in the highlighted blue box.) |
(empty template)
(template with value) |
(hat) | \hat
(Creates a template where you can enter a value in the highlighted blue box.) |
(empty template)
(template with value) |
To use this letter... | Enter this shortcut... |
---|---|
lower-case alpha | \alpha |
lower-case beta |
\beta |
lower-case gamma | \gamma |
upper-case delta | \cdelta |
lower-case delta | \delta |
lower-case epsilon | \epsilon |
lower-case eta | \eta |
lower-case theta | \theta |
lower-case lambda | \lambda |
lower-case mu | \mu |
lower-case pi | \pi |
lower-case rho | \rho |
lower-case sigma | \sigma |
upper-case sigma (summation) | \sum |
(summation with limits) | \lsum () |
lower-case tau | \tau |
lower-case phi | \phi |
phi variant | \vphi |
lower-case chi | \chi |
psi | \psi |
lower-case omega | \omega |